Bharatham : Uthishtatha-Jagratha : (wef-05/11/2012. )

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-14. Our scientists of the inner realm of the Spirit loudly proclaimed : "We have come across the thing to be known, knowing which everything else becomes known. It is of the nature of consciousness, awareness." The greatest of all knowledge is that which makes all knowledge possible, that is the alpha, the source. May you become thus blessed with that supreme experience beyond all things perceived by the senses, thought of by the mind, inferred by the intellect, felt in the deepest depths of your feelingful heart. Beyond all this is something indescribable, imponderable, which makes all these things possible—the awareness and the consciousness which says that I am. May divine grace and the benedictions of the Master grant us that experience of pure consciousness. That consciousness is your identity. That consciousness you are. For other than That you cannot be anything else. Because that consciousness is supr

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-13. But for awareness, nothing can be cognised. But for awareness, no knowledge is possible. Knowledge itself has as its basis the knower. The knower can be the knower only if It is a centre of luminous awareness, knowing all things. It shines everywhere as awareness—prajnanam brahma. That ultimate Reality is awareness, consciousness, which existing all things become known to exist. Without consciousness there would be nothing, no knowledge. Nothing is possible. Because the irreducible, axiomatic reality or the truth is that there is a great awareness—chaitanyam sashvatam santam vyomatitam niranjnanam (…who is pure Consciousness, eternal, peaceful, beyond ether, and untainted). Beyond all categories, beyond all phenomena there is pure consciousness, which alone knows everything and is able to proclaim anything and everything. Sri Swami Chidananda To be continued  ......

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-12. Modern science prides itself in being impartial observers and relentless pursuers of truth. They want facts, facts that are verifiable, tangible, reproducible any number of times given the same circumstances. So they say, "We are the seekers of truth. We are in search of practical realities, of verifiable and provable facts, not in presumptions or assumptions." They are seekers in pursuit of tangible facts, and they have marvellously succeeded in making themselves aware of ever so many facts in ever so many fields of human knowledge in this outer universe. But our ancients experienced something without which no other experience is possible. They declared, "We have not bothered ourselves about searching, observing, experiencing and becoming aware of facts in this passing projection or manifestation. We have made our quest in another dimension of the human being, and we have discovered the fact of awareness.

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-11. May the divine grace of the Supreme Being and the loving and compassionate benedictions of the Holy Master grant that we many all live a life of simplicity and dignity, truthfulness and fearlessness, compassion and loving kindness—a life of ceaseless remembrance of God and continuous inner meditation in the midst of outer physical action and activity! May God and Gurudev give us the gift of a synthesis of the inner and the outer. May they grant us their insight that there is neither the inner nor the outer, but there is only one single undivided God-principle to which everything is an inseparable part of Itself. It is in dualities that we have inner and outer—action and inaction, remembrance and forgetfulness. In that state of absolute faith in the non-dual, all-pervading presence of the one Reality that is subtler than the subtlest, the self-created delusion of distinctions and the self-created delusion of the dual thron

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-10. Hindus who say that Siva is different from Vishnu or the Supreme Parama Sivam is different from the Supreme Para Brahman of Vedanta do not have a full knowledge of their own religion. They are demonstrating a narrow and bigoted view which is contrary to the spirit of real Hinduism which is broad-hearted and tolerant. They do a disservice to Hindu religious unity by their emphasising superficial diversity in appearance instead of emphasising the essential unity of the Reality. Let me assure you that Goddesses Sarasvati, Parvati, Lakshmi, Durga, Kali, Bhavani and Lord Siva, Narayana, Brahman, Rama, Krishna, Dattatreya, Hanuman, Garuda, Kartikeya are all Divine forms that are in reality the One and the same Universal Spirit. They are all one. There is neither difference nor antagonism between them. It is not only childish but also foolish to deny this truth. You must be wise and recognise the fact that as a Hindu you k

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-9. Hence, my young friends, learn to recognise that in and through these various Divine Forms, you are really worshiping only the One Supreme God or the One Almighty Universal Soul (Param Atma). You are not worshiping many different gods. No matter by what names you call and address the Supreme Being, these names do not affect His eternal, non-dual nature. Adoration offered to any of these forms of the Hindu Divinities (Devatas) is directed really towards the one eternal Reality. Even when ignorant worshiper does not know this and thinks otherwise, nevertheless, he is worshiping the One non-dual Supreme Divine Spirit which is the same Para Brahmam of the Vedas or Parama Sivam of the Saiva Siddhanta or Bhagavan or Kadavul of the Bhaktas. Just as when you take a sea bath at the beach, no matter whether you bathed in Tonga beach or Durban beach or the beach in East London or in Port Elizabeth, what you have done is that you ha

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-8. A jeweller makes numerous ornaments like ear rings, necklace, watch chain, bracelet, ring etc. having different outer shapes and names. But it is seen that the one precious metal gold alone has assumed these distinct forms to fulfil different functions or serve different purposes of the wearer. Take another example. A father of a family, he may be a professor in a college where he is also the Vice-Principal. When he goes to the college he wears a distinct formal style of dress as required by his status and position as a college professor and an official in his administration, while at home he is relaxed in informal type of dress. Moreover, he is no longer regarded as a professor or treated as a Vice-Principal. He is now Daddy to his children. He is husband to the mother of the children. If his old father and mother are living with them, he is a son to them. He is regarded as a brother if his parents have other c

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-7. My dear young friends, you know that there is one substance we call cotton. It has no particular form or shape. Yet you recognise that it is one substance only that you see in one place as a colourful curtain, in another as a bed sheet, then as a table cloth, towel, Kurta, shirt, pyjama, turban, sari etc. They all have different shapes and functions but yet you know that they are only different forms taken by cotton only. The one element water is sometimes present as a well in the back garden or a lake or a river or sea or ocean. Also, it is sometimes seen as mist and fog. Elsewhere it is seen as fast flowing stream of water or as hard solid ice. The same water also becomes cold snow and sleet. It can manifest as cool dew or freezing frost. Elsewhere it appears formless yet very powerful and hot steam through a boiler. In a small way you must have seen pressure cooker in your house. What intense heat and ins

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-6. While fulfilling a certain cosmic function, the Supreme Being became referred to by a specific name. As our limited human mind cannot easily visualize or think about a purely intangible and abstract idea or principle, the ancients personified that specific aspect of the Divine nature attributing to it certain forms and features that could best signify and symbolize that particular aspect of cosmic functioning. They were able to expound and describe these distinct personifications of One Reality. Because, they were clearly revealed to their inner spiritual eyes during their times of high meditations and deepest mystical contemplation in which they are constantly engaged. Thus having obtained this inner Darshan of the meaningful manifestation of the One Divine Reality, they declared it for the benefit of all mankind in general. Each deity is, therefore, a personified expression of the One Supreme Divine Being. Due to

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled Part-5. First and foremost, the central truth that you must now grasp at the very outset is that all these seemingly different deities are actually varied manifestations of that One Supreme Godhead. The glory, the grandeur and the power of the One Supreme Being are limitless and indescribable. The different divine forms whose names have been mentioned above are all varied expressions of this glory, power, grandeur and a mysterious divine nature of the Supreme Being. Their distinctive forms have been so revealed as to bring out and express best that particular aspect of the Divine Reality which they are meant to convey. Thus even though appearing to be many and different, they are actually so many personified expressions of the One and the same Supreme Reality. They reveal aspects of His power and glory. When you have caught this point you will now see that though they seem to be distinct yet they are not different. In thi

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled :  Part-4. Here, our young readers may ask, "Who are these different deities that our elders have worshipped? For example Vinayaka, Muruga, Hanuman, Mariyamma, Kali, Vishnu, Siva, Parvati, Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Ayyappa, Dattatreya, Rama, Krishna etc. Also, why are you having so many different temples having these different deities in them? We are puzzled as to what connection there is between these deities. We are not able to understand who they are and why so many when Swamiji writes there is only One God." These questions are quite proper and young people being puzzled on this point is also understandable. Now, I shall explain to you what this situation means and also why such a situation has come about and why it has been allowed to remain in our society as part of our Hindu belief and worship. Now it is your turn as readers to carefully mark my words and to read with careful attention the matter I am explaini

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled : Part-3. Later on our spiritual ancestors, the sages of God-experience and illumined vision, attained also the knowledge that the various religions of man are like so many different ways and paths that finally lead to this ONE God who is behind and beyond all religions including Hinduism. The Supreme Almighty Being (God) does not belong to any religion. Because, God existed even before this universe and mankind were created, even before any religions have come into existence. All religions belong to God. Because, He is the source as well as the final destination of all religions that exist. Wise Hindus who rightly and properly understand their religion will firmly hold on to this basic truth of Hinduism, God is one and non-dual. You may call this Supreme Being as Paramatma, Parama Sivam, Param Pita or Para Brahmam. No matter in what way you have been taught to call Him from your childhood, the God worshipped in Hindui

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled : Part-2. The sublime philosophy of the Hindus declares that God is one. God is the ultimate divine Reality. The ancient sages of Hinduism clearly stated, "The Reality is One, the wise ones refer to It variously (by various terms)." We have the significant announcement, "Ekam sat, vipraha bahudha vadanti." This truth they declared when they spiritually discovered It through their direct personal experiences granted by Divine Grace. Therefore, a real follower of true Hinduism knows and therefore firmly believes that the Divine Reality or God is one and non-dual. Even though Hinduism is mistakenly regarded by many as a religion having many gods namely, polytheism, yet truly speaking Hinduism is a monotheistic religion. It is a religion that long long ago, before any other religion had appeared in this world, had discovered that there is only ONE GOD. Sri Swami Chidananda To be continued  ....

Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled : Part-1. Hinduism is the most ancient religion among all the great living religions in the world today. The origin of Hinduism is shrouded in antiquity of the distant past far beyond the times of known history. Hinduism has for its basis and source the timeless spiritual vision and revealed knowledge of the sacred Vedas and the lofty teachings and deep wisdom of the Saiva Siddhanta of the hoary Dravidian tradition. Just as the holy rivers Ganga (Ganges) and Yamuna (Yamuna) join each other in the sacred confluence at Prayaga (Allahabad, U.P., India) and unite to form together one of the mightiest and longest rivers in the whole of India, even so our ancients’ twin-cultures of the ancient Aryan and Dravidian peoples with their sublime philosophy and beautiful tradition united and together formed the fabric of this great living faith that is followed by millions of Hindus of varied denominations. They are unified by their common